Malawi has vowed to punish all perpetrators of Violence against women and girls. The remarks were made by the Minister Jean Kalilani during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender Based Violence Launch at Police Ground in Mzimba.

“You should all be aware that those engaged in acts of violence against women and children shall be punished by the laws of the country,” she said.

The Minister, Dr. Jean Kalilani has called upon organizations, communities and individuals to deliver quality IECD services to all young children both in the rural and urban areas. The Minister made the remarks during the launch of the 2017 National ECD Awareness Week at Lunzu Primary School Ground in Blantyre.

“Both (urban and rural)areas have children in need of ECD services. In this case, I encourage ECD implementing partners to target hard to reach areas with quality ECD services so that children can have the best start in life.Let me also urge development partners to invest heavily in ECD to improve delivery of children’s services through trainings, construction of standard ECD infrastructures, provide nutritious meals and stimulation materials to children,” She said.

The Minister, Jean Kalilani will on Saturday, 25th November 2017, launch the 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender Based Violence at Police Grounds in Mzimba.

Making the announcement at the Central Office of Information in Lilongwe, the Minister said that government is committed to ending gender based violence in the country, and as such the Ministry will work hard to ensure that the goal is met.

The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare who has been on tour of the Northern region, visited and commended Lusubilo Community Based Orphan Care programme in Karonga.

The Minister said that she was very happy with the way the Centre was run as it integrated its services with that of the community.

“I am very happy with the way that you take care of the children here. You not only take care of them here, but you ensure that they are integrated with their families and provide support to them right within their hoes. This is very commendable as it is one of the interventions that my ministry promotes,” she said.

“Ageing is not a crime; it is a process of human growth. Let us respect our senior citizens in our homes and communities,” were the words said by the Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Jean Kalilani.

Kalilani said this in preparation of the 2017 International Day for Older Persons commemoration at Old Airfield Ground in Chitipa, when she presided over the event. During the event, the Minister stated governments’ commitment to ensure that the knowledge and wisdom the older generation has is passed on to the younger generation.

The Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and social Welfare Jean Kalilani has said that she grateful for the partnerships it has with various organisations particularly World Vision. The remarks were made by the Minister at a symbolic gift presentation of Gifts in Kind (GIK) items at World Vision Offices in Lilongwe.

Kalilani said that the Government is committed to ensure that all children in Malawi are attending ECD, education and have access to health and nutrition.

Malawi has been recommended as exemplary in ending child marriages in the recent African Union (AU) Compendium of Marriage Laws. The recommendation was made at the just ended 4th African Union (AU) High Level Panel on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In the compendium, Malawi is listed among the eighteen countries in Africa who have signed new laws; conducted marriage law reforms; and are proposing new laws putting the minimum age for marriage at 18 years and above for boys and girls.

The Secretary for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Dr. Esmie Kainja who represented the Minister at the conference said that the Malawi Constitution Amendment that has harmonised the minimum age of marriage to 18 was key in the fight against child marriages.

The meeting which was held under the theme “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through investment in the Youth: Empowering Young Women and Girls,” highlighted the need to eliminate child marriages as one way to achieve the demographic dividend.